What If the Koch Brothers Financed Mad Men?

It seems to me that the quality of American television and American democracy are inversely proportional. Since Mad Men came out, then Game of Thrones–man, there have been some really good shows the last few years. Of course, our country’s going to shit three feet from our faces, but I can’t wait to see what happens to that girl from Orange is the New Black.

We’re familiar with the conspiracy narrative–the bad guys are tenting their fingers and planning diversions for the masses while they execute their evil. But is that really a conspiracy anymore? Given what the Koch brothers are known to be doing, would we even be surprised to find out that everyone in their meetings is required to tent their fingers?

No.

So for a group who’s openly committed themselves to buying everyone within reach, shaping politics to their wills, and otherwise maligning America for their benefit–how strange would it be for them to, say, dump millions of dollars into hiring really good TV writers in Hollywood. To promoting popular shows. To spawning Twitter campaigns talking about those shows. Setting up forums where people debate plot lines. Etc.

I’m not saying this is happening, I’m just saying that more people in America know who Jesse Pinkman is than know who their congressperson is. Repeat that back to yourself and see if it sounds ok.

And for a population that’s supposedly angry about this shutdown, the mass of conversation on Twitter isn’t people writing their representatives. No. Instead it’s maybe a joke about politics followed by stated plans to watch one or seven TV shows.

Way to fight back. Paul Revere rides all night uphill in the rain to send a message for democracy, and here we are in the middle of an oligarch takeover of our democracy, which is run by bought and paid for criminals, yet all we can do is talk about the various TV shows we’re going to watch.

When the shackles are put on, or some other dramatic metaphor, we should look our captors in the face and say, “Thank you, I deserve this.”, because we do.

This is me admonishing you. If you don’t know who your senators are. If you don’t know who your congressperson is. If you haven’t written them telling them that you hate Obama, or that you are upset about the shutdown, or that you think Boehner is a terrorist–or whatever your opinion is–then you don’t get to watch TV.

If you have shred of self respect, as an American, at least do your job as a citizen before you sit on a sofa and consume the unappreciated leisure provided by what’s left of our democracy.

Anyway, the Koch brothers financed Mad Men so you’d be a poor citizen. That was my point.

Sorry, never mind. What do you guys think is going on with Homeland? When is Brody coming back?